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‘Peter Pan Live!’
Peter Pan Live! may have attracted only half the audience that NBC’s first live musical production, The Sound of Music Live!, did last year, but the TV event was flying high online.
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Madagascar lemur king Julien is getting his own story on Netflix beginning in December.
The first five episodes of original series All Hail King Julien are set to premiere on the streamer on Dec. 19 with additional 22-minute episodes debuting throughout 2015.
The Madagascar spinoff is the second project to result from Netflix’s original programming pact with DWA. The first, Turbo Fast, premiered in 2013 and 10 additional projects — including Dinotrux, Puss in Boots and Veggie Tales in the House — are expected to roll out by the end of 2016.
“The combination of comedy, original music and stories of simple lemur life turned upside-down and fabulous by King Julien makes this series unique,” said Margie Cohn, head of television for DreamWorks Animation. “All Hail King Julien is really a showcase for our talented artists to bring the Netflix audience the great storytelling, compelling characters and fantastic design that is the hallmark of DreamWorks Animation.”
Watch more ‘The Penguins of Madagascar’ Trailer
King Julien serves as a prequel to DreamWorks Animation’s Madagascar as the lemur king holds court over a cast of familiar and new jungle characters. The series stars Henry Winkler as Julien’s predecessor, Danny Jacobs as Julien, Andy Richter as Mort, Kevin Michael Richardson as Maurice and India de Beaufort as Clover.
“We are excited to add a series focused on one of the most beloved characters from Madagascar to our growing line-up from DreamWorks Animation,” said Netflix original content vp Cindy Holland. “King Julien knows how to throw a great party and we expect families around the world will enjoy spending their holidays with him.”
Netflix is keeping the reboots coming with its newest children’s series.
The streamer has picked up 21 episodes of a live-action Richie Rich remake from DreamWorks Animation’s AwesomenessTV. The half-hour comedy stars Jake Brennan (Dark Skies) in the title role. Joshua Carlon, Jenna Ortega, Lauren Taylor, Kiff VandenHeuvel and Brooke Wexler also star.
Richie Rich, which will be available in the U.S., Canada and Latin America in early 2015, presents an updated take on the comic book character, which first made its way to TV sets in 1980 with a Sunday morning cartoon. Macaulay Culkin starred in a live action remake in 1994. In the latest version, Richie Rich makes his fortune by inventing and selling green technology and moves into a mansion. The series will follow his adventures making a movie, traveling to Antarctica and meeting celebrities.
The series is executive produced by Awesomeness CEO Brian Robbins, Tim Pollock and Jeff Hodsden. Pollock and Hodsden, both previously writers for The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, will serve as showrunners. AwesomenessTV’s Shauna Phelan and Joe Davola are also executive producing.
The show is part of Netflix’s growing slate of children’s series, many of them reboots. The streamer announced a Care Bears series earlier this month and also has an adaptation of The Magic School Bus set to premiere in 2015.
Email: Natalie.Jarvey@THR.com
Twitter: @NatJarv
